Maik Nawrocki warned over Celtic regrets as 'unhappy' defender told how to win over Brendan Rodgers

Celtic fans favourite Dariusz Dziekanowski insists Maik Nawrocki’s Parkhead future is in his own hands. And he doesn’t want the defender to regret letting his big chance slip through his grasp.

Nawrocki has become one of the big mysteries of a head-scratching season at Celtic. The £4.3m centre back was signed from Legia Warsaw as a direct replacement for Carl Starfelt and the initial signs looked promising. But niggling injuries ruled him out much of the first half of the campaign and he’s struggled to nail down a starting role for any length of time. Former Hoops hero 'Jackie" Dziekanowski – who is in the Legia Hall of Fame – won't second guess Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers.

And he is convinced it’s up to the 23-year-old to bust a gut and blast his way into the team for the title run in. Speaking to Record Sport, Dziekanowski said: “I thought Nawrocki played quite well in the first team in the first few weeks but unfortunately got injured. It took him some time to get back to fitness but it’s been difficult to get into the starting line-up.

“I know he’ll be unhappy at not playing, as every player would be, but it is his own hands. This is a big chance for him to play for a massive club.

“It’s difficult for me to say why he isn’t on the pitch all the time. It’s difficult for supporters as well. They might say, ‘we paid a lot of money for this player, why does he not play?’

“But the manger Brendan will see his progress and what he is doing in training and in games. He has a very good manager there and he will be learning from him.

“I am sure Celtic have a plan for him. It might be to gradually get him in to the team – or maybe go out on loan for six months and then come back stronger. But his target should be to force